External bearing seal arrangement

Abstract

An external bearing seal may have an annular support disk concentric about an axis and an annular seal body. The annular seal body may be supported by the support disk one of radially inward and outward of the support disk with respect to the axis. The seal body may have a plurality of concentric seal rings extending at least partially in the axial direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bearing assembly, comprising:
 a bearing having an inner race and an outer race concentrically arranged and spaced apart by one or more bearing members about which the inner and outer races are relatively rotatable about an axis; 
 an internal seal arrangement having at least one shroud extending between the inner and outer races and spaced apart along the axis from the one or more bearing members; 
 a bearing housing; and 
 an external seal arrangement having at least one external seal arranged axially outside of the bearing, the at least one external seal having at least three seal rings, at least two of the three rings in radially spaced relation to one other, wherein a first of the seal rings is in sealing engagement with the outer race, a second of the seal rings is in sealing engagement with the at least one shroud, and a third of the seal rings is in sealing engagement with the bearing housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one external seal includes two external seals located on opposite axial sides of the bearing. 
     
     
       3. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the at least three seal rings are concentrically arranged. 
     
     
       4. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of the inner and outer races rotates relative to at least one of the at least three seal rings. 
     
     
       5. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shroud includes two shrouds spaced apart on opposite axial sides of the one or more bearing members;
 wherein the at least one external seal includes two external seals located on opposite axial sides of the bearing, the first and second seal rings of each external seal in radially spaced relation; and 
 wherein the first seal rings of the external seals are in sealing engagement with the outer race and the second seal rings of the external seals are in sealing engagement with the shrouds. 
 
     
     
       6. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one external seal includes:
 an annular support disk; and 
 an annular seal body supported by the support disk at one of radially inward and outward of the support disk with respect to the axis, the annual seal body having the at least one seal ring. 
 
     
     
       7. A bearing assembly, comprising:
 a bearing having an inner race and an outer race concentrically arranged and spaced apart by one or more bearing members about which the inner and outer races are relatively rotatable about an axis; and 
 an external seal arrangement having at least one external seal arranged axially outside of the bearing, the external seal having at least one seal ring in sealing engagement with at least one of the inner and outer races of the bearing, 
 wherein the at least one external seal includes:
 an annular support disk; and 
 an annular seal body supported by the support disk outward of the support disk with respect to the axis, the annual seal body having the at least one seal ring; 
 
 wherein the support disk is within a center of the annular seal body; 
 wherein the support disk includes an annular groove and the annual seal body includes a flange mounted within the annular groove of the support disk; 
 wherein the annular groove extends in a radial direction and opens to an outer circumference of the support disk; and 
 wherein the flange extends radially at an inner circumference of the annular seal body. 
 
     
     
       8. The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one external seal includes two external seals located on opposite axial sides of the bearing, each external seal having at least one seal ring such that the at least one seal ring of each external seal seals against at least one of the inner and outer races. 
     
     
       9. The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one seal ring includes at least two seal rings concentrically arranged. 
     
     
       10. The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein one of the inner and outer races rotates relative to the at least one seal ring. 
     
     
       11. A bearing assembly for coupling to a shaft extending along an axis, the bearing assembly comprising:
 a bearing housing; 
 a bearing mounted in the bearing housing and having an inner race and an outer race concentrically arranged and spaced apart by one or more bearing members about which the inner and outer races are relatively rotatable about the axis; 
 an internal seal arrangement having at least one shroud extending between the inner and outer races and spaced apart along the axis from the one or more bearing members; 
 an external seal arrangement having at least one external seal with at least three seal rings including an outer seal ring in sealing engagement with the bearing housing, a first inner seal ring in sealing engagement with at least one of the bearing housing and outer race and a second inner seal ring in sealing engagement with at least one of the outer race and the shroud; and 
 a locating feature positioning the at least one external seal with respect to the bearing. 
 
     
     
       12. The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , further including an internal seal arrangement having two shrouds extending between the inner and outer races and spaced apart along the axis on each axial side of the one or more bearing members; and
 wherein the at least one external seal includes two external seals located on opposites axial sides of the bearing, each external seal having multiple concentric seal rings. 
 
     
     
       13. The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein one of the inner and outer races rotates relative to at least one of the at least three seal rings. 
     
     
       14. The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , where the locating feature includes at least one of a clamping plate, a shim, and a fastener.